‘Not spicy at all’ – Rafael Nadal apologises for behaviour during third-round Wimbledon win over Lorenzo Sonego

Rafael Nadal got into an uncharacteristic heated discussion with Lorenzo Sonego during the Spaniard’s third-round victory at Wimbledon.

Nadal apologised for calling the Italian to the net during his 6-1 6-2 6-4 victory on Centre Court that sent him to the last-16.

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It was all going smoothly for the 36-year-old until Sonego successfully lobbied to get the roof closed while he trailed 4-2 in the third set.

The Italian then broke the 22-time grand slam winner to love under the lights, but a fired-up Nadal hit straight back before serving the match out to keep his calendar year grand slam bid on track.

Nadal had earlier been irritated by a noise Sonego made during a rally, calling him to the net.

The pair then shared a long conversation at the end of the match.

Asked after the match about their ‘spicy’ chat, Nadal replied: “Not spicy at all, I just from the bottom of my heart I didn’t make it in a negative way.

“I feel sorry if I bothered him but I did it in a right way. I feel really bad now if I bothered him so I feel sorry for that. That’s it, I will talk to him after but this is not a problem.”

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He continued: "I have to say that I was wrong. Probably I should not call him on the net. So apologise for that. My mistake in that. No problem. I recognise that.

"Then after that, all the stuff during the match that I don't want to comment (on), because is something that I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. Only thing I can say is I saw him personally. I apologise for that.

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"My intention was never to bother him at all. Just to tell one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that's it.

"I think there is some code between players. Yeah, we had some issues there. But that's it.”

Nadal will play Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the fourth round of Wimbledon after he overcame Richard Gasquet.